Innovation Opportunity
Conservation Ecology Centre
This innovation opportunity is relying on the Upper Murray being a pristine environment and possible home for endangered spieces to be maintained and protected. While there is vested interest from stakeholders to keep the network live and focus on restoration projects, there was no distinctive big-scale opportunity that would benefit community, businesses etc. as a coherent project to move forward within the context of the Local Development Strategy.
Stage 1 – Discover
Initial proposition
To preserve, showcase and advance understanding of the Upper Murray ecosystems, flora and fauna, and conservation areas through the creation of a conservation ecology centre.
Extensive parts of the Upper Murray region are national and state parks and largely forested with a high number of species that include a large range of endemic, rare and threatened plant species and wildlife. A conservation ecology centre offers a unique opportunity to better understand, manage and ensure protection of the Upper Murray’s environment and its ecosystems through a coordinated and collaborative approach involving research and education.
This would also offer opportunity to develop the region’s climate refuge advantage to play a key role in the preservation of species and biodiversity beyond the Upper Murray in the face of climate change.
There is strong (and vested) interest amongst community to preserve the pristine environment and ecosystems of the Upper Murray, its valleys and waterways. Important to wilderness and nature- based tourism, ensuring their health is also critical to sustain economic and recreational activities of the region – for example the intersection of advancements with hydro power generation and agriculture activities with the environment.
Key assets
- Waterways and extensive forested areas with 80% of the region being national or state parks.
- Pheasant Creek Flora Reserve, Burrowa Pine National Park and Mount Mitta Mitta Regional Park all contain significant rare or threatened and endemic species.
- Strong desire of community to preserve and protect the natural environment.
Strategic competitive advantage
- Uniqueness of species and diverse ecosystems hold scientific value.
- A climate refuge where the impacts of climate change on ecosystems is less than most areas.
- A new indigenous owned and led organisation in the region with environmental conservation a key focus.
Key Challenges
- Ownership, who will drive?
- Limited local experience and expertise.
- Lack of common perspective on environmental values locally.
- Establishment and ongoing operational costs.
Stage 2 – Define
Entrepreneurial Discover Workshop (Wednesday 14th August 2024, 2PM)
The aim of this workshop was to define the asset further, and to confirm potential innovation opportunities that will create social and economic benefit within the community. A range of needs were discussed, current assets and activities acknowledged. While the group recognised the need to keep the network live and focus on restoration projects, there was no distinctive big-scale opportunity that would benefit community, businesses etc. as a coherent project to move forward within the context of the LDS. Ecology as a holistic approach, however, should be integrated in the discussions of other innovation opportunities – particularly agriculture and tourism.
